Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[mike13/60]

hi all,
ever since i was a kid i have wanted to own a classic American car and as soon as i turn 25 i will buy one! but i was just wondering if anyone out there has any info on owning an American classic in england, are they practical enough for everyday use? are the parts easy to get hold of? are they easy to drive on our roads? the type i am after is a 1960's ford a galaxie, falcon or anything really, which are the best type? or should i just not bother?

any info on this i would be very greatfull!!

thanks,

mike.

[Rick]

Hi Mike

If thats what you want, go for it!! like anything it helps to do your homework first, buy Classic American magazine for starters, and get a feel for who supplies parts, and how much they sell for.

A local garage often sells American classics, and (for Chevys anyway) they can order virtually anything over the phone and have parts arrive much quicker than buying parts for some Brit classics (bar the popular MGs, Triumphs, Minors etc). From what I can tell, stick to Chevy or Ford and you'll have few problems sourcing parts. Buy a Stude or something a little less mainstream and you'll probably have to spend more time sourcing parts suppliers.

As for running every day, it might work out pricey and would you want to subject a nice example to the daily hack?

Rick
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[giggles]

I would say get a copy of Classic American as well. Ebay is a good place to look for American cars too, there are pages of cars on there. The American Auto club I hear are very helpfull, www.american-auto-club.co.uk/ there is a for sale section on their website.

You might find that if you get an American car, that you have to avoid twisty country lanes, we took a friend with a '78 Camera down some nice Suffolk lanes and he said it was pretty scarry!

[Uncle Joe]

When I used to live in the UK, I used to use classic americans as my daily drivers.

Its probably no harder today, even with the increase in traffic, the size is simply something that you get used to.

I do think though that some are better than others as a first yank!

UJ

[Job-Rated]

Having bought three American vehicles in the past year, I can safely say that I wouldn't want to return to RHD, even in the UK.
It's one thing to own a nice Euro retro, but something foreign on our soil tends to snap more necks, especially if it's old.
I would recommend something a little more reliable than a Ford, though. Perhaps a Chevy?

Have a look at some nice 60's classics...

[Uncle Joe]

The only reason that Chevy (GM) parts are so available is that they use more.....

I've only ever blew one US V8 in all my life, a small block Chevy!

UJ

[giggles]

Job-related, is the middle photo taken at Iceni car picnic and the bottom one at the Nats?

[Stuchamp]

[Job-Rated]

[Uncle Joe]

Stuchamp, you can knock most of the zeros off that mileage....did get me home though, smoking like a two stroke, knocking like a diesel....

Prefer the Mopar 318's though, though the one in my old FuryIII went bang 10 days after I sold it! though in fairness, that had more miles on it than the Space shuttle!

UJ